The fourth edition of Garda Lift on Fire in Riva del Garda returns on Saturday, September 26, 2026, bringing an intense display of athletic endurance, extreme rescue training, and camaraderie to the northern shores of Lake Garda.
Organized by the Volunteer Fire Corps of Riva del Garda (Corpo Vigili del Fuoco Volontari di Riva del Garda), the competition challenges emergency service personnel from Italy, Germany, Austria, and across Europe to race up the steep mountainside stairs ascending toward the Venetian Bastione. Participants undertake the grueling vertical sprint wearing complete structural firefighting turnout gear, heavy protective boots, and self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA), adding over 25 kilograms of operational weight.
600 Steps and Extreme Gradients Toward the Venetian Bastione
The racecourse follows the historic pedestrian incline rising up the slopes of Mount Rocchetta, directly overlooking Riva’s historic harbor and sailing basin. Competitors must negotiate approximately 600 steps over a 500-meter course that features vertical ramps with gradients reaching up to 91 percent.
The finish line is situated at the foot of the circular grey limestone tower of the Venetian Bastione, constructed in the early sixteenth century to overlook the border between the Republic of Venice and the Prince-Bishopric of Trent. The sheer physical demand of the climb requires intense cardiovascular stamina and heat dissipation control, offering a vivid showcase of the physical readiness demanded in frontline civil protection and mountain rescue operations.
Public Viewing and Panoramic Lift Access
Spectators and visitors in Riva del Garda can witness the competition from multiple vantage points along the course and at the start area near the foot of the hill. Additionally, the modern glass-walled Bastione panoramic inclined lift allows members of the public to ascend directly to the finish terrace, which provides sweeping views across the northern lake basin, Mount Brione, and the Sarca river plain.
